Southeast catalysts Cooper, Ponder join OVC first team

Southeast Missouri State University's Willie Ponder and Curtis Cooper were two of the most exciting and electrifying -- not to mention productive -- football players in the Ohio Valley Conference this year.

So it comes as little surprise that Ponder and Cooper were both named to the all-OVC first team Monday in voting by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

Ponder, a junior wide receiver, had a sensational rookie season with the Indians after transferring from the junior-college ranks. He led the OVC in every receiving category, catching 70 passes for 1,090 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Ponder became only the second player in school history to have more than 1,000 yards receiving in one season and his 70 receptions rank third all-time on Southeast's single-season list. He also set the single-season school record for TD receptions.

Cooper, a senior tailback, made the all-conference squad as a return man and he was also placed on the second team as a running back.

Cooper led the OVC in punt returns with a 15.4-yard average. He also led the OVC and ranked high nationally in all-purpose running while being the conference's third-leading rusher. Cooper rushed for 1,198 yards -- the second-best total ever at Southeast -- and he also caught 44 passes.

"It's great for both of them. They obviously did a great job for us and deserve it," said Southeast coach Tim Billings. "They were two of the most exciting players in the league."

Others honored

Cooper joined six other Southeast players in being named to the all-OVC second team: sophomore offensive guard Eugene Amano, freshman offensive tackle Dan Connolly, senior linebacker Corey Mathis, junior defensive tackle James Jennette, junior safety Prince Anderson and junior punter Kyle East.

In addition, sophomore offensive tackle Justen Meyer made honorable mention.

Amano, Connolly and Meyer were part of an extremely young Southeast offensive line that was thought to be a major question mark entering the season but actually turned out to be one of the squad's more solid units.

"It says a lot for our young line," Billings said. "It shows we have some potential there."

Anderson, who led the Indians in tackles with 125, ranked third in the OVC in tackles per game with 11.4. Jennette was fourth in the league in tackles for loss with 15 and he led the squad in quarterback sacks with four while being third in overall tackles with 78.

Mathis had 68 tackles, including seven for loss, while East was the OVC's third-leading punter with a 37.5-yard average and he booted 12 inside the 20-yard line.

"They all had very good seasons and they're very deserving," said Billings of all the Indians' honorees.

Even though the Indians went just 4-7 this year and finished sixth in the seven-team OVC, Billings said the overall improvement in the squad was evident.

"I've said all along that we were a vastly improved team in the OVC and the fact that we had 10 spots on the all-OVC teams this season as compared to five a year ago shows that we are making progress," he said.

Special awards

League champion Eastern Illinois had the OVC Offensive Player of the Year as junior quarterback Tony Romo was honored for the second straight season.

Romo, who led all of Division I-AA in passing efficiency, threw for 2,068 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Eastern Kentucky defensive back Yeremiah Bell is the OVC Defensive Player of the Year. Bell, a junior, led the league with six interceptions, 22 passes defended and four fumble recoveries.

Bob Spoo of Eastern Illinois was named OVC Coach of the Year.

Eastern Illinois led the all-OVC first-team selections with eight, followed by Eastern Kentucky with five and Tennessee State with four.

The complete all-OVC list appears in Scoreboard on Page 2B.